RANT: Tractor Supply won't sell less than six chicks!!!

[Stacykins]

At my local TSC the chick minimum is still 6 chicks, but the duckling minimum is 2. Is that normal normal? I bought up four of the older, leftover ducklings, and was told if I only wanted two, I could get two. At least I know since the ducks are older, they survived initial shipping well and time in the store, they acted quite robust.

 

[SuttonHeritageFarm]

Why don't you buy local? We are a licenced chick hatchery in NC and I will sell as few as 2-3 chicks at a time. I do not sell individual chicks since I do believe they do much better when they have a friend. Most local hatcheries or even individuals who hatch chicks have a good selection, are friendly and helpful and healtheir happier chicks since they have not been shipped.

We advertise on ebay classifieds and craigslist. I hope this helps

 

[Tikkijane]

State law. Where I live, the minimum is 6; a friend in Co says she can buy smaller numbers from her TSC. Now, our local feed store will let you get lesser numbers- the deal there is they "give away" 3 or 6 chicks, depending on the size of feed bag you get. Pretty smart, that. And then when they run out and you want more, they do a really big order after their chick days, which then allows people to get smaller numbers because they hatchery ships the large order to the feed store.


TSC, though, will let you split an order with someone else, if the manager approves it. I did that last year, but this year, I got 6. My complaint is that the only pullets they know the breed of they call "reds" which is supposedly all the hatchery labels them as being. I emailed TSC from the website because I wondered about store policy wrt never knowing what they were getting, and they said to call the day before and they should have the shipping slip to say what they would be getting the day before.

I wanted silkies, and had her pull out all the chicks with 5 feathered toes from the bantam bin, but they wouldn't let me get in there to do it. I think the laws are relatively good for protection of the onesies-twosies novelty gifts, but I do think if they know you and know you have chickens already, there should be some wiggle room.

 

[OldChurchEggery1]

I'm in Virginia and the same thing has happened to me. I came across some buff brahmas at my local 360 Hardware store and they wouldn't sell less than 6 to me. I already have a flock of 8 I've had for 2 yearsnow but I'm desperately looking for 2 buff brahmas (pullets). All of my local stores, Southern States, Tractor Supply won't sell less than 6. I have chicks for pets, not dinner. Our coop is a good size for adding 2 more but I can't do 6. We don't really have the funds to extend the coop or run right now. Does anyone know how I can get just 2 buff brahmas?

Sent you a PM. Please take a look. I'm also in Mechanicsville.

 

[Coop Deville]

State law. Where I live, the minimum is 6; a friend in Co says she can buy smaller numbers from her TSC. Now, our local feed store will let you get lesser numbers- the deal there is they "give away" 3 or 6 chicks, depending on the size of feed bag you get. Pretty smart, that. And then when they run out and you want more, they do a really big order after their chick days, which then allows people to get smaller numbers because they hatchery ships the large order to the feed store.


TSC, though, will let you split an order with someone else, if the manager approves it. I did that last year, but this year, I got 6. My complaint is that the only pullets they know the breed of they call "reds" which is supposedly all the hatchery labels them as being. I emailed TSC from the website because I wondered about store policy wrt never knowing what they were getting, and they said to call the day before and they should have the shipping slip to say what they would be getting the day before.

I wanted silkies, and had her pull out all the chicks with 5 feathered toes from the bantam bin, but they wouldn't let me get in there to do it. I think the laws are relatively good for protection of the onesies-twosies novelty gifts, but I do think if they know you and know you have chickens already, there should be some wiggle room.

Are you in Texas? All of the feed stores in the Hill Country area sell chicks individually. One store I go to has a six-level incubator with different breeds on each level. There's a stack of paper bags and a fish net. You can just scoop out the chicks you want with the net and stick them in the bag!

 

[Coop Deville]

No minimum either.

 

[Tikkijane]

Are you in Texas? All of the feed stores in the Hill Country area sell chicks individually. One store I go to has a six-level incubator with different breeds on each level. There's a stack of paper bags and a fish net. You can just scoop out the chicks you want with the net and stick them in the bag!

Nope, we're a bit west of Texas.

I, personally, would move to Hill Country in a heartbeat if I could, though................. Our other local feed store does a single big order for its chick days (which is 2 days then they always sell out the morning of their first actual day but then do another large order for those that missed out), but they will sometimes let folks come in the day before (once they've checked out the chicks) and then let you pick the ones you want. I'm planning on getting 3 more next week. They also don't "sell" the chicks- they sell the bags of food and then depending on the size of bag you buy, you get that many chicks. A nice way to um, offer smaller quantities of chicks, I think.

Sounds like those feed stores have it goin' on!

 

[Deviant]

ummmm TSC why is one of my FEMALES chicks look like it is turning into a male?

 

[xSlingsho66]

That way parents dont walk in and say Oh look at these cute lil chicks, sussy would love one, buy one take it home, it does 2 hours later from the kid playing with it.

 

[Baggagolers]

ummmm TSC why is one of my FEMALES chicks look like it is turning into a male?

Nobody gives a 100% guarantee on pullets.